Intro to Latin

Translating Verbs – Latin to English

(1st Conjugation, Present/Imperfect/Future, Active Indicative)

Translating VerbsStem + Tense Sign + Personal Ending

Translating VerbsStem + Tense Sign + Personal Ending

Stem tells you the meaning of the word

Vocabamus comes from voco=call

Laudant comes from laudo=praise

Natabo comes from nato=swim

Translating VerbsStem + Tense Sign + Personal Ending

Tense Sign tells the tense–Present: no tense sign• Is, are

– Imperfect (past): tense sign = ba• Was, were

–Future: tense sign = bi (bo/bi/bu)• Will

Translating VerbsStem + Tense Sign + Personal Ending

Personal Endings tell–Person• 1st = I, we• 2nd = you• 3rd = he, she, it, they

–Number• Singular• Plural

Personal Endings Chart

Memory help for Singular endings: MOST (Latin is the most fun class!); or O for one, S for second, and T for third person

Singular Plural

1st Person -o or -m -mus

2nd Person -s -tis

3rd Person -t -nt

Stem + Tense Sign + Personal EndingAmo, amare: lovestem=ama

*“a” disappears before final “o”**“i” disappears before final “o”***“i” changes to “u” before “nt”

Examples

Present Imperfect Future

1st Person Sing Amo* Amabam Amabo**

2nd Person Sing Amas Amabas Amabis

3rd Person Sing Amat Amabat Amabit

1st Person Plural Amamus Amabamus Amabimus

2nd Person Plural Amatis Amabatis Amabitis

3rd Person Plural Amant Amabant Amabunt***

Translation

The order of Stem/Tense/Ending is basically reversed from Latin to English.

In English we say “I am walking” or “You were preparing” or “They will watch”. The person and number comes first, then the be verb that indicates tense, then the definition.

So when you are decoding a verb in Latin, the elements will go in the opposite order in English.

Laudabimus

Lauda bi mus

Lauda“praise”

bifuture

mus1st Pl

Lauda“praise”

bifuture

mus1st Pl

We will be praising

Ambulabant

Ambula ba nt

Ambula“walk”

baimperfect

nt3rd Pl

Ambula“walk”

baimperfect

nt3rd Pl

They were walking

Optas

Opta s

Opta“choose” present

s2nd Sg

Opta“choose” present

s2nd Sg

You (sg) are choosing

Vocabitis

Voca bi tis

Voca“call”

bifuture

tis2nd Pl

Voca“call”

bifuture

tis2nd Pl

Y’all will be calling

Portat

Porta t

Porta“carry” present

t3rd Sg

Porta“carry” present

t3rd Sg

He/she/it is carrying

Spectabam

Specta ba m

Specta“watch”

baimperfect

m1st Sg

Specta“watch”

baimperfect

m1st Sg

I was watching

Amabo

Ama b(i) o

Ama“love”

b(i)future

o1st Sg

Ama“love”

b(i)future

o1st Sg

I will be loving